Biomedicines
February 25, 2026
Alice Melani, Giorgia Papini, Marco Bonaso et al.
In recent years, psychopharmacology has experienced a significant challenge, highlighting a renewed and strong scientific interest in psychedelics as breakthrough therapies for mental disorders. Psychedelics can influence cognitive and emotional processes, showing solid therapeutic potential, particularly in treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders. Amongst the most promising compounds,...
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
January 13, 2026
Rebecca Ciacchini, Alessandro Lazzarelli, Giorgia Papini et al.
Background/Objectives: The present exploratory study evaluates the feasibility and psychological effects of a structured Qigong intervention implemented in an Italian university setting. Qigong is a traditional Chinese mind-body practice combining gentle movements, breathwork, and mindful attention, aimed at enhancing mind-body integration and interoceptive awareness. Methods: A total of 332...
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
November 7, 2025
Francesca Scafuto, Rossella Mattea Quinto, Graziella Orrù et al.
Background: Contemplative practices encompass a variety of static and dynamic practices. These practices, by fostering insights, heightened awareness, and a deeper connection to a broader framework of meaning, may play a crucial role in significantly reducing trauma-related symptoms in both young and adult populations. Methods: The current narrative literature review used Scopus and PubMed to...
Preprints.org
July 15, 2025
Francesca Scafuto, Rossella Mattea Quinto, Graziella Orrù et al.
preprint
Background: Contemplative practices encompass a variety of static and dynamic practices. A theoretical introduction traces differences among contemplative and meditative states; bottom-up and top-down embodied contemplative practices; implications of polyvagal theory in trauma recovery. Contemplative practices, by fostering insights, heightened awareness, and a deeper connection to a broader...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
June 27, 2025
Rebecca Ciacchini, Silvia Villani, Mario Miniati et al.
College students are particularly vulnerable to psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and chronic stress, often triggered by academic pressure, developmental challenges, and events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the effectiveness and feasibility of a structured mindfulness-based program-Mindfulness Laboratory (MLAB)-delivered over three academic years to...
Pharmaceuticals
January 19, 2025
Marco Bonaso, Letizia Biso, Benedetta Zucchini et al.
13 citations
Psychedelics, historically celebrated for their cultural and spiritual significance, have emerged as potential breakthrough therapeutic agents due to their profound effects on consciousness, emotional processing, mood, and neural plasticity. This review explores the mechanisms underlying psychedelics’ effects, focusing on their ability to modulate brain connectivity and neural circuit activity,...
Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
November 18, 2024
Alessandro Lazzarelli, Francesca Scafuto, Cristiano Crescentini et al.
30 citations
It is increasingly recognized that interoceptive ability, the capacity to detect, interpret, and consciously integrate signals related to the physiological condition of the body, is central to emotion experience and regulation. Interoceptive ability can be trained and improved through mind-body interventions. This article attempts to provide an integrative review of the link between...
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
November 13, 2024
Rebecca Ciacchini, Ciro Conversano, Graziella Orrù et al.
5 citations
Chronic pain (CP) affects about 30% of the global population and poses significant challenges to individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. The interactions between physiological, psychological, and social factors are crucial in the onset and development of CP conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based intervention, examining its impact on perceived...
Clinical neuropsychiatry
October 1, 2023
Mario Miniati, Graziella Orrù, Mery Paroli et al.
7 citations
To investigate mindfulness traits/attitudes as protective factors against chronic pain related distress, depression and anxiety. Fifty patients (25 with chronic non-oncologic pain-NOP; 25 with chronic oncologic pain-COP) were administered with the following scales: Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Pain Disability Index (PDI), Italian Questionnaire for Pain (QUID), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS),...
Frontiers in Psychology
September 1, 2020
Ciro Conversano, M. di Giuseppe, M. Miccoli et al.
Objective Mindfulness disposition is associated with various psychological factors and prevents emotional distress in chronic diseases. In the present study, we analyzed the key role of mindfulness dispositions in protecting the individual against psychological distress consequent to COVID-19 social distancing and quarantining. Methods An online survey was launched on March 13, 2020, with 6,412...
Frontiers in Psychology
July 31, 2020
Ciro Conversano, Rebecca Ciacchini, Graziella Orrù et al.
Health care professionals (HCPs) are a population at risk for high levels of burnout and compassion fatigue. The aim of the present systematic review was to give an overview on recent literature about mindfulness and compassion characteristics of HCPs, while exploring the effectiveness of techniques, involving the two aspects, such as MBSR or mindfulness intervention and compassion...